The Blog

The BOATHOUSE is the newest restaurant open in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World. The upscale waterfront dining establishment that specializes in serving steaks, chops, seafood, a raw bar, and more, opened today in what will become The Landing section of Disney Springs. The restaurant will also feature unique nautical offerings, such as a fleet of Aphicars (yep, these cars can go in the water), water taxis, rare dream boats, and more.

As far as the menu is concerned, it is very upscale, however there are a few not so ritzy items offered, as well. Menu offerings are:

Kid’s Desserts

As I mentioned previously, the restaurant will also feature unique rides on the water, cruising around Downtown Disney. There will be quite a few options for guests to choose from.

The first are the Amphicars, which for $125 for a 20 minute tour. The trip will include seating for up to three guests, plus your captain. Tours are available daily from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., weather permitting.

For a luxurious experience, consider chartering the Italian Water Taxi, known as The Venezia. This 40-foot wooden Italian vessel offers captain-guided tours of Downtown Disney, complete with live music, chocolate-covered strawberries, and a champagne toast. The cost is $75 per adult and $50 per child, age 13 and under. Tours will run from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., weather permitting. This option is available for individuals, up to groups of 20.

If you’re looking for a romantic, private tour for two, ask about the Antique Steamboat Tour aboard Lady Rose, which costs $150 per couple.

Guests will also be able to enjoy Floating Art, great pieces gathered from museums, private collectors, and boat shows from around the world.

Finally, there will be great live entertainment throughout the day and evening, with flag ceremonies; musical performances of beloved bugle songs, performed aboard Lady Rose; and other musical acts inside. (PS: Word is Yeehaa Bob will be found performing here too!)

The restaurant’s hours are from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. daily. For reservations, stop by The Ship’s Store (adjacent to The BOATHOUSE) or call 407-939-BOAT (2628).

I can’t wait to read some reviews of the Boathouse. I’m so curious if the seemingly outrageous prices are worth it. I’d be there in a heartbeat if the food is amazing. Couldn’t really care less about the boat tours.

Wow, really? $10 for a kids dessert of Oreo Chocolate Fundge Sundae, fruit cup, or sorbet? Dessert is the same exact price as the entree with beverage and side? Are you sure? Or are they just that insane?

$2000+/night for a bungalow on a man-made, fresh-water lake on the main land, nearly an hour’s drive from any ocean?

As long as people are willing to pay, these kinds of prices will stick around. I can’t fault a company for making profit if the market is there (and seems to be growing). I just hope they use some of that to reinvest into their properties; it looks, at least so far, like they’re doing that.

Went today for lunch and the entire experience was first rate. The decor is beautiful…pristine and stylish. The service is outstanding…even better than most Disney eateries. My wife had probably the best crabcake of our lives…large with very little breading and mostly back fin meat. I had mahi tacos and they were excellent as well. We also tried some of the oysters from the west coast and they were very fresh and tasty…as good as we have had anywhere. Even the cocktails were well-done. This restaurant appears to be better than I anticipated. I would rank it up there with Jiko, Flying Fish, Spice Road, or Citricos…but still a level under Blue Zoo, Capa, California Grill, and of course V&A. It will be interesting to see if the level of service and food maintains such high quality.

My problem with this is the same problem I have with most upscale steak houses. The model is built around people on expense accounts impressing clients–and people for anniversaries and birthdays, etc.

It’s good solid food that designed to be ‘meat and potatoes, pleases every one”. But I really think they could break with the steak house model at Disney and at least through in a salad and two veggies with your 115 dollar steak. 21 dollars for mushrooms is a bit offensive.